Youth football team opens season with a win

The Wahkiakum Youth football team opened the season with a 20-8 win over Castle Rock Reds in Longview. We scored on the first play from scrimmage. Zach Brown hit tight end Nathan Dault on a play action pass that covered 50 yards. Nathan was able to run by the coverage and go into the end zone untouched. Parker Patching kicked a successful on-side kick which the mini Mules recovered. We then drove the ball another 45 yards to pay dirt. Luke brown followed Patching, Gage Horman, Cody Terpsma, Rafael Gilbertson, and Chuck Barton through the Castle Rock defense from eight yards out. At the end of the first quarter we had a 14-0 lead and Castle Rock hadn't touched the ball yet. Castle Rock was able to get a drive going right before half time to make it 14-8 at the half. Wahkiakum drove the ball well all game and scored again in the third quarter on a Zach Brown run. We had another opportunity to score in the 4th quarter with third grader Ashden Niemeyer pounding the ball up the middle and chewing up big yards, but we let time expire. Defensively the kids flew to the ball and tackled well. Wahkiakum had 187 yards rushing and 65 passing while allowing just 89 yards total for Castle Rock.

Wahkiakum Youth Football Schedule

• Sept. 24 at Longview Memorial Stadium, 4 p.m.

• Oct. 1 at Castle Rock, 2 p.m.

• Oct. 8 at Wahkiakum, 5 p.m.

• Oct. 15 at Castle Rock, 4 p.m.

• Oct. 22 in Kelso, time TBA.